The Nationals placed third baseman Ryan Zimmerman on the disabled list with a strained left hamstring and called up top prospect Anthony Rendon to take his roster spot, a temporary swap of their franchise pillar for the 22-year-old who may one day replace him.

The Nats look stronger, even without Harper...who I expect to return in about a month.

- Relief pitching is better just losing HRod and Duke

- Kroll is superb. Ababd is OK.

- Soriano's expression looks like his "war face"...an Army term I learned from my son, who is a big teddy bear underneath it. However, BCT taught him to put on this war face when necessary, and he can look ferocious. Soriano's expression reminds me of Cordero, who pitched his last inning with an 80 mph fastball and an attitude that seemed to intimidate he hitters.

- Lineup is settling in. Lombo 2-for-4 tonight. Rendon even better.

- I hear the DC FAN mid-day guys repeat: "The Nats suck. They suck. Nothing but suckitude". No content. "Have to win 100 of their next 200 games to finsih with 105 wins" blah blah.

No team plays 162 games at once. Just win the next game. Zimmermann was not bad, and Strasburg pitches tomorrow. Haren? Maybe they give him plane tickets to Anchorage in the next road-trip.

The Nats look stronger, even without Harper...who I expect to return in about a month.

- Relief pitching is better just losing HRod and Duke

- Kroll is superb. Ababd is OK.

- Soriano's expression looks like his "war face"...an Army term I learned from my son, who is a big teddy bear underneath it. However, BCT taught him to put on this war face when necessary, and he can look ferocious. Soriano's expression reminds me of Cordero, who pitched his last inning with an 80 mph fastball and an attitude that seemed to intimidate he hitters.

- Lineup is settling in. Lombo 2-for-4 tonight. Rendon even better.

- I hear the DC FAN mid-day guys repeat: "The Nats suck. They suck. Nothing but suckitude". No content. "Have to win 100 of their next 200 games to finsih with 105 wins" blah blah.

No team plays 162 games at once. Just win the next game. Zimmermann was not bad, and Strasburg pitches tomorrow. Haren? Maybe they give him plane tickets to Anchorage in the next road-trip.